[01/27/12 - 08:36 AM]Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: "The Finder" Climbs to Series High for FOXBy The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

nielsen ratings(fast national numbers for thursday, january 26, 2012)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night:

FOX (12.75 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.1, #1) held onto the top spot on Thursday with new episodes of "American Idol" (16.99 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.4, #T1) and "The Finder" (8.51 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.9, #4), which hit a series high.

And finally, the feature "The Covenant" (1.31 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #15) on The CW (1.31 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the film delivered a 0.5 rating.

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.4/6 with an encore telecast; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 3.0/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.4/4.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Late Show," 0.7/3 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) tied CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.4/2 with an encore).

At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.4/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/27/11):

FOX (17.21 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) was Thursday's top draw thanks to new episodes of "American Idol" (22.27 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.6, #1) and "Bones" (12.15 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.9, #3). Said installment marked "Bones's" highest rated 18-49 telecast in almost four years (since 2/14/07) and in almost one year in total viewers (since 2/4/10).

In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.7/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.7/7 with an encore; and ABC's combo of "Nightline," 2.9/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/5.

In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.8/4 with an encore; "Nightline," 0.9/4; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.

At 12:35 a.m., "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.2/4 in metered-market households with an encore) trailed CBS's first-run "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.4/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49 with an encore) trailed "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

At 1:35 a.m., Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-/3market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.